The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11
he was alive he would tell you So"


along with the other wounded, to Atlanta. and
from there they sent me TO Montgomery, and
as we was passing Notasulga, / thought I'd
just get oil and get out home. 1t was only
five miles, and so | got off the boys helped
me, and Mr. Minis sent NE out home in his
buggy"
and wher you got we'll why didn't you
come bacll?"
''Well, was a-coming and went to Mont
gomery, and Major Calhoun give me transport
tation back, and come back as far as Notasul-
ga, and only stopped day, to run out home to
get coat my mamma was a-Inaking for me.
and that very Same night the cavalry come and
arrested me like runaway niger and brought
me back, without even letting me get my Wit
ties nor my coat"
"Well, is that all?"
eyes, sir, all as 7 knows; only if Captain
Rich hadn'ta got killed, wouldn't "a been i'll
this fix
You say Major Calhoun gave you transport
tation from Montgomery back to the army3"
Eyes, sir, he did,
"Where is it?"
cts at home in my 'tother brches' pocket.
If you'll write to mamma, she will send it to
YOU
'No, never mind, that will do. Gentlemen
have you any questions to aSk?''
The prisoner was marched back to the guard
house, and the court proceeded to make Q
verdict.
There was no discussion, each member OF
the court being simply asked, "What say you,
is the prisoner guilty or not guilty?"
1t is the rule, i'll all military courts, for tho
junior officer. in rank to vote first, and then
the next, and the next, in an ascending scale
This is done that the opinions of the seniors
may not affect the Judgment of the juniors.
The vote is viva voce, and as one by one was
asked, the answers came, Guilty"
Tho verdict is unanimous rs to tho guilt Of
the prisoner. Now. gentlemen, we will pass
upon tho sentence"
This matterinvolved long discussion, anna
iority contending for whipping on the bare
back in the presence OF his command, and
branding in palm Of his right hand with the
letter d,
To this the president dssented.
"NO, gentlemen" he said, "thcre is but one
adequate punishment for the offence Of deser-
ton in the face of the enemy, and that is DEATH
"If this boy is guilty, as you say he is, let
him be shot. If lie is innocent, as | feel in my
soul he is, he should go free Having found
him guilty, our duty is to sentence according to
the findings, and the penalty for this offence is
death The rest we can leave to the command
ing general"
SO poor Robert Nix was condemned to be
'shot to death, at such time and place as the
commanding general may Designate
The president, bluff old Colonel Hachory,
added to the official report, "In consideration
of the extreme youth of the prisoner, the mani
ifest illegality of his enlistment and his uni-
form good conduct as soldier, previous to this
offence, / respectfully commend him to the
mercy of the commanding general, and would
ask that he be discharged from custody and re-
lna.Qslod 70 the Eassisae nj forsla ais, z
: The finding 0fa tfe court was not to Is made
known, until the action Of the general was re-
turned, Int in some way it leaked out, and
flew, with tho instinct Of bad news, to the ears
of the mother at home.
For fow moments, after hearing it. she
stood daZed, then, creeping in TO her ROOM she
lSnelt by hey bed, and poured out her sorrow in
tears and sobs and prayers.
At last, gathering her w0manlv courage with
her womanly wits, she arose and commenced
a hurled preparation for a journey.
"But wher'll you get the money, Nfary?"
asked her husband as she told him of her
purpose.
ii will sell the COW. That will be enough to
carry me there
"But how'll you git back?"
"If / can save my child I can walk back;
but if they murder my darling, l shall not care
ever to come back; / shall pray to die too.'
The COW was driven to the village and readily
sold, and ON the next train tho heart-broken
mother was ON her way to offer her own life for
the life of her son.
She was timid woman, modest and reserved,
but her great anxiety made her courageous.
Arriving at Dalton, around which place the
army was cncamped, she made her way to tho
regimental headquarters and received from
the colonel confirmation Of the story. He told
her that the matter was in the hands of Gen
y
hands of President Davis, and offered TO 20
with her to tho general.
II was late in the day, but there were no
'oifice hours" in the army. Ii they could
reach headquarters before the general retired
to bed, they would be i'll time.
They found him at supper.
OWN the lady cat something?" was the hos
pitable invitation.
mo, thanks. / came to tell you Of my son.
There is some mistake, cruel mistake, /
how a In 10 M a
deserter. 1 don't know what they proved
against him, but it is false that he ran away
from the field OF battle and came home with
out leave. He was wounded, sir, badly shot in
the leg, | know, for j nursed him myself. If
you will sec him. sir, and bet him tell you, you
will know the truth, for / have taught him not
TO tell O. lie, even to save mis- own life"
"Ah, but who is it? i donot know to whom
you refer" said general, puzzled at the lady's
eanestnesS.
"My son, Robert Nix, whom they have false
ly accused Of descrtion, and condemned to be
General Brent do you know anything of
the cas-? - turning to his adjutant- general and
II have had it under review today. Tt isa
peculiar case, and | intended calling your at
tcntion toit in the morning." answered Gen
cral Brent.
owe will 90 through it now My good lady
you must wait here, until / examine the mat
ter"
CO. sir, 7 beg that you will let me explain"
size interrupted.
ono, be seated here. If 1 need you viii
call YOU
The poor lady sank down on camp stool
and as the general went into the office with his
adiutant She slipped to her knees, and in silent
prayer awaited the issue.
She had not long TO wait although it seemed
an age to her. The general himself came back,
holding in his hand an order.
"NOu tell me that your son was woundcd?"
CAS- God will judge me in the day j stand
before Him, tell you tho truth. He came
home to me wounded in the leg"
"And this story he told the court was true ."
"Iknow notwhat he told the court, only this,
If Inc told anything at all ne told the truth"
MADAM, believe you and J believe him.
Here san order for his release, / viii send an
orderly with you 10 the guard, Or else hayc
him conducted to you al your quarters; per-
haps chat would be best"
"NO, 40, let mo 90 10 my SON where he is.
And, ON sir, do wish was able TO thank Won,
but ana not, my hearts too fun. God bless
and too much overcome for further speech,
she cold only seize the generals hand and
kiss it,
Then, almost lettering with the burden ~
her joy, She followed The orderly to the guard
house, bearing that little slip Of paper which
saved his life and his honor.
.
Aun}s1a Int nut: bIrg Cleveland comes up 10